Turkey's Saadet Party leader Temel Karmollaoğlu has ruled out any possibility joining the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Nationalist Movement Party’s (MHP) “People’s Alliance,” saying the AKP government is “not engaging with Turkey’s serious problems.”
“Those who speak against the government are being sent to jail one day later or being dismissed from their jobs. The country should not be like this. They say: ‘Come and join the People’s Alliance.’ I wound not be so crazy,” Karamollaoğlu said on March 9 at his party’s provincial congress in Ankara.
“[They ask] us what we expect, or how many ministries we want, or how many lawmakers. But this nation cannot be sold for 20, 120 or even 250 lawmakers. Everyone should know that,” he added.
Karamollaoğlu has repeatedly stated that his party will not take part in any alliance, criticizing the AKP for “not prioritizing the problems of the country.”
“Our country is going through very tough times. We are facing very serious problems. But when we look at those who are governing the country, none of these problems is on their agenda,” he said.